NGT notices to AP, Telangana on sand mining

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to the Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Orissa and Maharashtra here on Friday seeking their response to the petition filed with regard to illegal sand mining in the states.

It also issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Krishna River Authority. One Ramesh Babu, a journalist who is associated with Rela, an NGO fighting for the rights of tribals and farmers and former MPTC member K Varalaxmi of Polavaram area, filed the petition citing several violations of rules in sand mining.

They contended that the AP Government netted an income of Rs 850 crore through sand sale from 380 sand reaches and this was admitted by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu himself. The Chief Minister had also mentioned in a press conference that there are several loopholes in sand sale.

As for Telangana, illegal mining was rampant in Adilabad, Warangal, Nizamabad, Khammam and Karimnagar districts in about 40 sand reaches. Heavy equipment too was being used in all these areas against the stipulated rules, the petitioners said seeking a halt to the same.

They also appealed to the NGT to ensure that the income from sand mining is spent on environmental protection and was not used for other purposes. Justice Swatantra Kumar and technical member Prof Yousuf heard the petition and adjourned the case to January 7. Advocate Sravan Kumar appeared for the petitioners.